For many years there has been no physical trace of the mediaeval parish
church of the extensive Prebend of Govan. It is understood that around 1136
and stone, Norman-style building was erected within the enclosure where
the earlier stone-carving community had been based. An aisle was added in
1651 ( Marwick 1882, p.215 ) during the ministry of Hugh Binning. The
enlarged mediaeval building was demolished in 1762 and therefore not
recorded in the Statistical Account thirty years later.

It is easy to be deceived by the north / south orientation of the Victorian
church building. Stewart Thomson suggested the orientation of the present
building must have followed "a very ancient tradition" ( Thomson 1963, p.9 ).
All the post mediaeval parish churches were built on the site of the present
structure. The plan of the graveyard prepared for the Heritors of Govan
Parish by Thomas Kyle in 1809 shows the eighteenth century church in the
same place. When in and the 1826 church were built, 'correct' liturgical
orientation had not become an issue for Scots Presbyterians. The church
James Smith of Jordanhill designed for Dr. Matthew Leishman ( 1826 ) stood
exactly where the narthex and first section of the nave stand today. The
plan showing the outline of Smith's church under that designed by R. Rowand
Anderson is among the Govan Heritors Records, preserved at the Scottish
Record Office ( West Register House ). By the time Dr. John Macleod and
Anderson moved away from upgrading and enhancing Smith's church to plan a
new building there was no room left among the lairs to extend to east, south
or west. The only option was to build to the north, pushing the building
through the boundary wall of the graveyard. This explains the orientation
today, but is not relevant in discussion of the mediaeval parish church and
earlier structures.

Plate 1

The enlarged insert from Robert Paul's early view of Govan shows a building
pushing towards the Clyde and a cupola or belfry. That structure is likely
to be the ile buildit in the kirk of Govane ( Marwick 1882, p.215 )
before 1 November 1651. The belfry does not appear to be fixed to that
roof. It is fixed to some structure behind, possibly above the true west
door of the mediaeval parish church. In addition to the Parish Church, there
was a leper hospital ( said to have been founded about 1350 ) and chapel
dedicated to St. Ninian in the Gorbals, and the hospital of St. John in
Polmadie ( founded before 1249 ).

Plate 2

Govan is not specified in the enquiry ( Inquisition ) of about 1114 ( before
1224 ) into the lands belonging to the Church of Glasgow ( Innes 1843, 3 no. 1 ).
King David I, with his son Henry also making the grant ( Innes 1843, 11
no. 6 ), granted the lands of Govan to the Cathedral before 1152 ( Cowan
1967, p.77-8 ): You are to know that I have given and granted to the
church of St. Mungo of Glasgu and to the bishopric of the same church Guven,
with all its bounds ( Innes 1843, 10 - 11 no. 6 ). Govan ( latterly along
with the whole of Partick, Shields, Gorbals and Polmadie ) was made a
Prebend of Glasgow Cathedral by Bishop Herbert ( 1147-64 ): the church
of Guvan with all ecclesiastical rights pertaining to the same church, and
the islands between Guvan and Perthec [Partick] and that part of Perthec
which king David of Scotland gave as a dower to the church of Glasgu at
its dedication, and an [or the] other part of Perthec which the same
king David gave to the aforesaid church of Glasgu and to Bishop John and
his successors. ( Innes 1843, 11 no. 7 ). The tiends were appropriated to
the Bishop's Table, which meant the income from the parish supported the
household of the Bishop of Glasgow. The gift of Govan to Glasgow Cathedral
is confirmed by five bulls issued by three of the Popes.

A great lawyer ( born in Siena ) Orlando Bandinelli, son of Ranuccio, reigned
as Pope Alexander III from 1159-1181. He was caught up by the power struggle
between the papacy and the emperor Frederick (I) Barbarossa ( 1152-90 ).
Eight hundred and fifteen years ago ( 5-19 March 1179 ) he was in the
chair at an important conference - the third Lateran ( Eleventh General )
Council. He had to contend with no fewer than four anti-popes ( Kelly 1986,
p.176-7 ). A busy man? Not too busy to issue three bulls about Govan -
25 Match 1172 ( Innes 1843, 25 no. 28 ), 29 April 1174 ( Innes 1843, 30 no. 32 )
and 19 April 1179 ( Innes 1843, 42 no. 51 ).

Urban III ( 1185-87 ) was pope for only 23 months. He was a fierce but not
resolute opponent of Frederick Barbarossa. He conveniently died on a visit to
Ferrara and saved the church a fresh crisis ( Kelly 1986, p.181-2 ). His bull
was issued in Verona ( Rome was too hot for him! ) on 12 June 1186 ( Innes
1843, 54 no. 62 ) confirming all Bishop Jocelin's possessions, including
Govan.

An elderly and frail aristocrat became pope on 18 July 1216 - Honorius III
( 1216-27 ). His problem emperor was Frederick II ( 1220-50 ), his greatest
concern the new Crusade called for by his predecessor ( Innocent III ) - the
ill-fated Fifth Crusade ( Kelly 1986, p.188-9 ). He was not too busy to forget
Govan. Three months and one day into the job ( Innes 1843, 94 no. 111 ) he
confirmed the Bishop of Glasgow's possessions, including Govan!

Plate 3

The picture of mediaeval Govan presented in our Outline History is very
limited because two essential works had not been consulted, although
Brotche ( 1938, p.30-32 ) had been able to make use of the first in his
History of Govan. First one of the minute books of the Archdiocese of
Glasgow, Cuthbert Simson's Protocol Book, published as long ago as 1875;
secondly Annie Dunlop's Doctoral thesis, published in 1934, an invaluable
introduction to Vatican documents dating from 1418-1488. As befits a former
dominie of Bellahouston Academy, John MacFarlane is remembered in Govan Old
as an energetic man with a vigourous personality. Sometime Session Clerk
of Govan Old Parish Church, MacFarlane was able to list 11 mediaeval
'incumbents' of Govan ( 1965, p.78 ) with suggested date(s). His list
reads:

Help

1160

John de Lund

1319

William de Govan

1432

Thomas Cameron

1453

Friar John

1454

Robert Blacader

1478

John Otterburn

1480

Malcolm Durans

1497

Adam Colquhoun

1508

Thomas Muirhead

1511

Walter Beatoun

1525

nb Stephen Beatoun

1561 - 77

Recent publication of Vatican and Avignon archival material has brought
to our notice additional names and information. We have to alter one name
and delete others from the list, alter dates and add more names.

We know of at least three members of the Govan ministry team during the
period of the Prebend of Govan. The Prebendery ( or Rector ) was a canon
of Glasgow Cathedral, played his part at the Cathedral Chapter and in the
administration of the Diocese ( latterly Archdiocese ). He lived in the
prebendal Manse, immediately north of Provand's Lordship, between St. Nicholas
Hospital for twelve poor men and the Renfrew Mase ( Durkan 1986, plan of
Cathedral precinct ).

The work of the parish was done by the vicar and the parish clerk, both of
whom were required ( unlike the Rector ) to live in the parish. The vicar
served the church and its worship services, and was responsible for the
cure of souls ( the pastoral work ). He lived on a small fixed pension allowed
him by the Rector. It is not certain where his Manse might have been.

The duties of the parish clerk included tasks that would be described today
as both sacred and secular. He was part assistant minister and part church
officer, and by "the middle of the fifteenth century the priest and people of
every parish...in Scotland could claim by the law and custom of the realm
to have an official assistant minister known as the parish clerk" ( McKay
1967, p.25 ). The appointment was for life ( perpetual ) ( ad vitem aut
culpam ) ( McKay 1967, p.31 ). There was a strong popular element in his
election ( McKay 1967, pp.28, 30 ), and which often took place before the main
mass on a Sunday ( McKay 1967, p.32 ). The full range of his duties included
daily morning and evening worship and the masses at church, taking part in
processions, looking after the church bells and ringing them, looking after
the holy water and the fires needed for incense burning ( McKay 1968, p.32-38 ).
The last parish clerk of Govan was James Hill, who also served the
endowed altar of the Virgin Mary within the church. At the Reformation, he
reported that the endowment yielded 12 bolls of Oats, 3 bolls of Meal and
26s of money ( Hill 1902, p.2 ).

As well as 15 Rectors ( also called Parson and Prebendary ) the records
provide the names of 3 vicars pensioner, 3 perpetual parish clerks, and
the names of 4 fifteenth century Govanites who took orders ( two wrongly
listed by MacFarlane as Rectors ) and 1 notary. The first name 'Help' appears
to be incorrect. It is true that Bishop Herbert conferred the prebend of
Govan on his clerk between 1147 and 1164 ( note the earlier date ), but the
name is more likely to be Elias. Ralegh Radford ( 1967, p.184 note 54 )
suggests: 'We read Elias for the 'Help' of the text, on the assumption
that the true reading is 'Hely', a contracted for for an oblique case of
'Helyas'.'

The phrase 'de Govan' does not normally infer 'in Govan', but 'from Govan'.
William, B.Dec. ( Bachelor of Decreets ) ( 1432 ) in not working in Govan -
it is his birthplace. Another William de Govan was clerk of the Diocese of
Glasgow and notary public during 1417-18 ( Carte Glasguensis, p.238 no. vii ).
Friar John is another Govan boy, from the next generation, who became head
of the Black Friars ( Dominicans ) of Glasgow ( 1447-56 ) and secured
substantial grants of property and land for them ( Robertson 1846, xlviii ).
Another Govanite Patrick also became prior of the preaching friars at
Glasgow ( 1471-76 ) ( Robertson 1846, iv ). The fourth Govanite I have traced
is an Alan, an older contemporary, who became conventual prior of Paisley
Abbey, and who died before 24 February 1422 ( Lindsay & Camera 1934,
p.282 ).

Adam Colquhoun became rector of Govan before 24 February 1505 ( Bain &
Rogers 1875, 336 no.150 ) and the last mention of him as rector is dated
2 December 1508 ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 414 no.309 ). Thomas Muirhead
is in post before 7 May 1510 ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 470 no.438 ) and was
still there on 20 September 1511 ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 518 no.554 ).
Hopefully, further research will provide fresh names, and confirm the
doubtful ones. The fresh list of names and revised dates is offered for
comparison:

In 'Glasgow Cathedral Close' during 1507 and 1508 events surrounding
Prebendary Adam Colquhoun of Govan and John Gibson, Prebendary of Renfrew,
deserve the pen of an Anthony Trollope. They are first seen together on
24 February 1505, sitting in judgement between Sir Andrew Quhit ( White )
and Mr. John Sanquhare, alleged vicar of Wallistoun ( Bain & Rogers
1875, 336 no.150 ).

On 22 May 1507, the sub-dean, the president of the chapter and the canons
transfer a piece of property from Gibson to Colquhoun. Previously the
sub-chanter and master of the hospital, Sir William Silver, had granted
John Gibson, prebendary of Renfrew, a certain tenement belonging to the
said hospital, lying in the city of Glasgow near the palace of the archbishop,
on the west side thereof, between the manse of the prebendary of Govan on the
south, and the lands of Partick Culquhoun of Glen on the west and north
( Bain & Rogers 1875, 377 no.235 ). The chapter ratifies the annexation
of the tenement to the prebend of Govan for ever, with consent of the said
prebendary of Renfrew ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 377 no.235 ).

Mr. David Conigham and Sir Andrew Merschell had been appointed vicars-general
during the absence of Archbishop Robert Blackadder on pilgrimage to the
holy land. On Sunday 15 July 1508 John Gibson appears before them and
presented and left a certain schedule of complaint respecting Mr Adam
Culquhoun, canon of Glasgow, complaining to the said vicars-general of the
said Mr. Adam ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 408 no.295 ). Colquhoun is a match
for Gibson. In defence, he alleged the form of quarrel to be contrary to
the oath of the canons and to the statutes of the chapter of Glasgow, upon
which Mr. John was sworn, and to the observance of which he was bound by his
oath ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 409 no.295 ).

Things really came to a head in November of the same year. The unwelcome
news had filtered back to Glasgow of the alleged death of Archbishop Robert
Blackadder. The King and members of the Cathedral chapter resolve to act.
On 9 November Mr. Adam Culquhoun, prebendary of Govan, presented certain
royal letters subscribed with his signature and closed with his signet...
for elevting or postulating James Beaton, bishop of Galloway, to be
archbishop of the church of Glasgow, which was destitute of a pastor and
archbishop, as was alleged, through the death of Robert, late archbishop
of Glasgow, and last possessor thereof ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 404 no.288 ).
Beaton's appointment goes through on the nod: the president and chapter...
unanimously, and with one voice, in accordance with the supplication of
his highness, postulated the said reverend father James to be archbishop of
Glasgow ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 404 no.288 ).

Colquhoun and Gibson clash during that meeting, and both ask for instruments.
The Concise Scots Dictionary defines an 'instrument' as: a formal
narrative, duly authenticated, of any proceedings of which a person wished
to preserve a record, latterly chiefly with a view to protesting or
appealing against them.

John Gibson, on being asked for a vote...answered that a certain time ought
to be given to the chapter to advise or deliberate in regard to the said
election or postulation ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 405 no.289 ).

Gibson carefully qualified his delaying tactic; adding that he well knew
that if Robert, archbishop of Glasgow, now alleged to be dead, were
present personally in the chapter, and wishing to resign his archbishopric,
he would sooner elect or postulate the said James to be his successor than
any one else ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 405 no.289 ). Colquhoun interpreted
this as refusal to postulate Beaton. Upon which Mr. Adam Colquhoun asked
instruments lodging his protest at John Gibson's refusal to support the
king's nominee. On this occasion Colquhoun seems to have been either
paranoid or hasty, because Mr. John Gibson asked instruments on the
premises, and that he had not refused to postulate the said James to be
archbishop ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 405 no.289 ).

What a meeting, called in the absence of the dean, sub-dean and precentor.

Dean Robert Forman lodges a firm protest the very next day, on returning to
Glasgow and discovering Prebendary Colquhoun had seized the initiative in
a matter that would profoundly affect each member of the chapter ( Bain &
Rogers 1875, 405-6 no.290 ).

Instrument on the protest by Mr. Robert Forman, dean of Glasgow, before
the canons of Glasgow, assembled in the chapter-house, that the fact of
Mr. Martin Rede, president, and the chapter, having, on the previous day,
without his being present, postulated Mr. James Beaton, bishop of Galloway,
to be archbishop of the see of Glasgow, and to be transferred to the same,
should not prejudice him or his successors, or their right or jurisdiction.
Done in the chapter-house, 10th November 1508.

There has been no opportunity to prove Colquhoun's next appointment,
probably Rector of Stobo, but an Adam Colquhoun was to become Official of
the Archdiocese 1524-41 ( Watt 1969, p.189 ). On Sunday 13 March 1511, in
the prebendal manse of Govan he is nominated as one of two executors by his
successor in Govan, Thomas Muirhead ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 521 no.562 ).

Following the death of the vicar pensioner of Govan, Sir Andrew Androsone,
David Dwne, presbyter, has the pensionary vicarage of Govan conferred on him.
David Dwne was presented to the chapter by his patron Mr. Adam Colquhoun
on 2 December 1508 ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 414 no.309 ). When Thomas
Muirhead, prebendary of Govan, made the will already referred to, he was
suffering from a near fatal-illness. However, he recovered, and it seems he
did not enjoy cordial relations with his vicar pensionary. Muirhead gives
Dwne a blast on Sunday 20 September 1511 ( Bain & Rogers 1875, 518 no.554 ):

Instrument on the warning given by Mr Thomas Murhede, prebendary
of Govan, to Mr. David Dwne, vicar-pensioner of Govan, to make
personal residence at the foresaid church of Govan, as he was bound
by law, within nine days thereafter, on pain of deprivation.

So we must leave Glasgow's lively late mediaevale alternative to Barchester
Close.

Note:

An early version of this article was delivered to the Society of
Friends of Glasgow Cathedral on the 25th January 1992. A revised version
formed part of the annual lecture to the Friends on the Eve of
St. Constantine's Day 1993. The aim of this article is to present information
about this phase of the Govan story easily available from a range of sources.
My hope is to stimulate a complete rewriting of the period by a mediaeval
specialist.

Acknowledgements:

The staff at Glasgow University Library, the Glasgow
Room, the Mitchell Library, and the Strathclude Regional Archives all helped
with the labour of researching material. The Regional Archivist, Mr. Andrew
Jackson, supplied accurate contemporary translations of Latin texts from the
Bannantyne and Maitland Clubs volumes. Special thanks to Dr. John Durkan,
who gave invaluable advice at the start of my research, and who was kind
enough to scrutinise the final version, and bring to my notice Rectors
Alexander Napier, Vedastus Muirhead and David Howiesone, culled from
Calendar of Papal Registers ( ed. W.H. Bliss ) and Munimenta Almae
Univ. Glasg., neither of which I had the opportunity to consult.